The Twins have somehow managed to screw up the first two games of the series, but still have a shot at the division and homefield advantage in the opening round of the postseason. With Carlos Silva on the mound on four days rest, can the Twins finally put together the complete package for a win? Chicago: 90-71. Minnesota: 95-66.
Lineups
Chicago White Sox
Name POS AB AVG HR RBI OBP SLG VORP
Sweeney RF 30 .233 0 5 .233 .233 -2.8
Ozuna 2B 185 .324 2 17 .362 .443 6.1
Gload 1B 152 .329 3 17 .356 .467 9.2
Thome DH 487 .290 42 109 .417 .602 64.5
Fields 3B 16 .125 1 2 .333 .375 -0.3
Pierzynski C 507 .296 16 64 .333 .438 19.0
Cintron SS 184 .285 5 41 .311 .391 4.9
Mackowiak LF 252 .286 5 23 .359 .397 8.7
Anderson CF 361 .227 8 33 .293 .363 -9.8
Minnesota Twins
Name POS AB AVG HR RBI OBP SLG VORP
Castillo 2B 580 .295 3 49 .356 .369 20.2
Punto 3B 455 .292 1 45 .355 .376 10.7
Mauer DH 517 .346 13 84 .429 .505 65.4
Cuddyer RF 554 .282 24 108 .360 .504 34.9
Morneau 1B 588 .321 34 129 .376 .560 51.6
Hunter CF 553 .278 30 96 .336 .486 31.6
White LF 334 .246 7 38 .276 .365 -13.0
Redmond C 175 .349 0 23 .373 .423 10.6
Bartlett SS 329 .307 2 31 .365 .392 15.4
Pitchers
Name IP W L ERA WHIP K/9 AVG VORP
Vazquez 198.0 11 11 4.77 1.28 8.05 .256 22.9
Silva 175.0 10 15 6.07 1.55 3.45 .327 -10.2
Carlos Silva has been feast or famine recently, as over his September starts he's posted the following numbers:
Date IP R
9-1 4.0 6
9-6 6.0 0
9-11 7.0 1
9-16 7.0 1
9-22 5.2 5
9-27 4.0 5
Chicago's starter, Javier Vazquez, has had issues with the Twins this season. In four starts he's 0-3, seeming to lose his grip on the game as it progresses. On May 5, he squandered a 4-0 lead in the fifth and sixth innings. On July 24, he squandered a 2-0 lead as he allowed 3 runs in the sixth and another 2 in the seventh before being lifted without recording an out. On August 20, his team had given him a 1-0 lead in the top of the third before he lost control in the bottom half of the inning, surrending 4 runs through seven en route to another loss. Finally, on August 25, he had a 3-0 lead going into the top of the sixth. He proceeded to lose it again, being lifted after allowing just two runs, but the avalanche had begun. The Twins scored 4 that inning, and took the game.
We need this one for a shot at the division. GO TWINS.